Update on the Incidence of Autism

One of the most hotly debated autism topics is whether rates of incidence are actually rising or if improved diagnostic techniques account for the rises seen throughout the country. State departments of education around the country are reporting alarming increases in the numbers of kids receiving an autism diagnosis. It is difficult to imagine that these trends are explained entirely by better diagnosis.

A very significant statement in the sixth edition of the textbook Child Neurology-2000, Menkes & Sarnat seems to support this:

Page 1172; "Thus the increase in number of children diagnosed with autism is so spectacular, that it is unlikely to be merely because health care workers are paying greater attention to this condition."

This well respected, very mainstream book in it's sixth edition, is one of a growing number of sources that seem to be conceding that an epidemic of autism cannot be explained away by improved diagnostics or genetics.